Cheese grating machine



Dec. 6, 1932. G. MAESTRO 1,890,091

cHEEsE GRATING .MACHINE Filed oct. e, 1931 ull | llllI x IA ILL Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES GIOVANNI MAESTRO, OF NEW KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA CHEESE GEATING MACHINE Application filed October 6, 1931. Serial No. 567,179.

One of the objects which I have in view is the provision of a simplified form of cheese grater which will be inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in operation, of durable character and which will be easy to cleanse and keep clean. rIhese objects I accomplish by the improved construction hereinafter described. Y

Another object which I have in view is the provision of improved means for moving the spring-follower into and holding it in its retracted position, thus permitting easy loading of the grater with a supply of cheese to be grated and greatly facilitating the operation of and also the Cleansing of the machine.

Other novel and improved features of construction, and also of arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the principles of my invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine with the retractor lever in its operative position and the follower retracted.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1 and looking toward the right and showing the follower plate.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 and looking downwardly.

Fig. 4 is an end view looking toward the left in Fig. 1 with the retractor handle shown in section along the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an incomplete side elevation of the machine showing the retractor lever in its inoperative position to permit the follower spring to expand.

Referring to the drawing, the casing of the machine which may be formed of suitable sheet metal comprises a horizontally disposed barrel or cylinder 1, an open boxing 2 above said cylinder and opening into the top of the same and a delivery spout 3 at the bottom of the cylinder.

The barrel 1 adjacent to its right hand end in Figs. 1 and 3, which end for conven ience is termed the rear end7 is perimetrally complete and is closed at its right extre1nity by the substantial metal plate 4 which may be a casting and which is provided with the depending support or post 5 having at its lower end the parallel lugs 6 and clamping screw 7 so that the machine may be mounted on a table or other support.

The floor of the barrel 1 is cut away adja- 55 cent to its longitudinal center providing the opening 8 into the spout 3 and in front of said opening, toward the left in Fig. 3, the wall of the barrel above the spout 3 is provided with the d ischarge perforations 9.

The front end of the cylinder is closed by the wall 10 which is extended downwardly and inwardly to form the front wall of the spout 3, the side and rear walls of said spout also converging downwardly, and the lower end of the spout being open for the discharge of the grated cheese into a dish placed below the spout.

The sheet metal is bent vertically at the top to form the open-top boxing 2 through 70 which the cheese is loaded into the barrel, the bottom of the boxing opening into the barrel as is best shown in Fig. 2.

By constructing the casing of sheet metal a light and strong structure is provided and one which is readily cleansed after use. A lid 11 may be provided as a closure for the boxing 2.

Attached to the inner face of the front wall 10 of the barrel is a circular grating 80 plate L2. having inwardly projecting teeth V13 which teeth may be conveniently formed by cutting angular or pointed tongues in the metal and striking them out.

14 represents a horizontally disposed shaft 85 extending forwardly into the barrel and journaled in a. bearing 15 in the end plate 4, the plate being provided with al central circular boss 16 on its outer surface which lengthens the bearing for the shaft 14.

The outer end of the shaft 14 is provided with a hand crank 127 whose hub is held on the shaft in any convenient manner as by the set screw 18.

On the inner end of the shaft 14 is rigidly 95 mounted the spider 19 upon the front of which is mounted and fixed a circular follower plate 20 of proper diameter to rotate and to slide in the barrel 1.

The follower plate is provided at its front end plate face with a plurality of spurs or sharp project-ions 2l which may be made by punching and striking out the metal of the plate.

2:2- represents a relatively strong helical spring coiled about the shaft lll and having its rear end bearing against the end plate d of the barrel and having its front end bearing against the spider i9, thus tending to move and force the follower plate 20 toward and against the grater plate l2. f

28 represents an angular bracket secured to the outer face of the end plate a above the boss 16 and provided with a circularhole 24 through which extends the straightgintermediate portion of the retractor lever. r`Ehe outerend portion 26 of the lever is an# gularly disposed to the `portion y25 'and is disposed at substantiallyright angles tothe e, as illustrated in Figs. l and 3. rlhe outer extremity of the portion 26 is provided with a handle 27. The inner end por'- tion of the lever is disposed at substantially right angles to the intermediate portion 25 and is formed sa closed loop Q8 which straddles the shaft la. rlhe loop is curved as shown in Tfigs. l and 5 so that when the lever in its inoperative position,'as illustrated in Fig. 5 it extends over the boss lo and bears against plate Ll. /Jhen the lever is ino-ved toward and into its operative position, illustrated in Figs. l, 3 and d, the curved end'of the loop bearsv against the hub of the handV crank l? and forces said hub outwardly,

drawing the shaft with it so that the spring 22 is compressed and the follower plate 2O is forced rearwardly away from the grater plate and past the openv throat of the boxing Q. Wvhen the lever has been thrown into its full `operative position, the intermediate pora0 tion 25 of the Ylever slips Vinto groove, 29 formed inland transverselyof the'boss 16,

thus by the powerofthe spring 22 vloclingthe lever against accidental release.

Villllhen the barrel is to' be yloaded with the cheese which is to be grated' the retractor lever .is thrown into its operative position and the cheese loaded Y in between .the follower plate and the grater plate. ylhe lever isthen released by a tug on its handle su'icientto disengage the lever from the'groove 29 and the spring being then released presses the follower plate 2O forwardly, thus' feeding the cheese to the grater l2. T he crank handle 27 is then rotated, causing the follower plate 2O to be revolved as it advances. rlhe cheese is then grated' and delivered through the spout to the waitingplate.

lowerplate and .permitting the barrel to beY reloaded.

ging va portion arranged p Particles of cheese escaping rearwardly through the follower K plate will drop down through the opening' Vwithout said casing and' arranged when moved into its operative position to retract said shaft and follower away from the grater v and against the force of said spring to permit the cheese 'to be loaded into the barrel between thegrater and the follower.

- 2. .In acheese grater, the combination with a horizontally disposed barrel, a grater at jone endv of the barrel, a shaft extending into the othery end of said barrel, a follower mounted on said shaft and a spring urging said follower ytoward the grater, of means comprising a bent lever st-raddling said shaft without said Vcasing l and arranged when movedinto its operative position to retract said shaft and follower away from the grater and against theforce of said spring to permit the cheese to be, loaded into thebarrel between the lgrater and the follower, and means for' retaining saidlever in its operative position against accidental release.

3. ln a cheese grater, the combination with a horizontallyV disposed cylindrical casing having a feed opening in its top wall, a circular follower slidable therein, the casing and the follower being provided with opposed grating surfaces and the bottom wall ofthe casing being perforated for the discharge of the grated material, a shaft Vprotruding through one end of the casing and upon the inner yend of which the follower is fixed, a spring interposed betweenthe follower and theend of the casing to Vcause thefollower to approach the grating surface of the cylinder and arphandle onrvthe outer of `means tov retract the` follower within the cylinder to the latter, said means comp-rising a bent lever Journaled at the end of the casing l and havthe casing' and the handle to move the handle away from the casing whereby to compress the spring and retract the follower.

4c. In a cheese grater, the combination with a horizontally disposed v cylindricalV casing havin'g'a feed opening in its top wall, a circular follower slidable therein, the casing andl the'follower being providedV with opposed grating surfaces and the bottom wall of `the casing being .perforated for the kdischarge ,of

the grated material, a shaft` protruding through one end of the casing andupon the inner end ofjwhich the followeris fixed, a spring interposed between the follower and the yendV of. the casing to` cause the followerj Y to approach the grating surface of the cylin-l der anda handle on the outer end of the end of the shaft,

permit material to be loaded into tofbe forced between shaft, of mea-ns to retract the follower within the cylinder to permit material to be loaded into the latter, said means comprising a bent lever journaled at the end of the casing and having an arcuate portion bearing against the handle, whereby when the lever is swung the handle is wedged away from the casing.

5. ln a cheese grater, the combination with a horizontally disposed cylindrical casing A having a feed opening in its top wall, a circular follower slidable therein, the casing and the follower being provided with opposed grating surfaces and the bottom wall of the casing being perforated for the discharge of the grated material, a shaft protruding through one end of the easing and upon the inner end of which the follower is fixed, a spring interposed between the follower and the end of the easing to cause the follower to approach the grating surface of the cylinder and a handle on the outer end of the shaft, of means to retract the follower within the cylinder to permit material to be loaded into the latter, said means comprising a bent lever journaled at the end of the casing and having an arcuate portion bearing against the handle whereby when the lever is swung the handle is wedged away from the casing, the end of the lever being shaped to lock the parts against accidental movement when the follower is retracted.

Signed at New Kensington, Pa., this 26th day of Sept., 1931.

GIOVANNI MAESTRO. 

